Building block



Patented Jan. 1, i929.

uuirsn sra'rss JOHN J. WHITACRE, OF CARROLL COUNTY, NEAR WAYNESBURG, OHIO.

BUILDING BLOCK.

Application filed November tier of blocks may be reversed with reference a to the outer blocks and air spaces formed between the two tiers of blocks preventing a continuous mortar joint from the inside to the outside of the wall; and to provide an arch in the wall at the inner end of the tongue or projection to bridge the hollow of the tongue and support the weight of the blocks superposed thereon.

An embodiment of the invention is illustr ated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an isometric view of one of the improved building blocks, showing the relative dimensions of the same, and

Fig. 2, a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a wall built of the improved blocks.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.

The block may be formed of terra-cotta or the like and may be of any convenient length, 12 inches being a suitable length for easily handling the same and building a wall.

Assuming the height of the head portion 1 of the block to be siX and one-half inches, the other dimensions may be substantially as follows.

This head portion of the block may have a width of three and one-half inches and is preferably hollow and divided at its horizontal center as by the web or partition wall 2, dividing the interior of the head into two horizontal passages 3 which reduce the weight of the block and provide for ventilation there- .through.

A tongue 4 is formed upon the inner side of each block, this tongue being substantially one-third of the height of the head, or two and two-twelfths inches in height. This tongue has a width greater than that of the head plus the width of a mortar joint, being substantially four and one-half inches, as compared to the three and one-half inch width of the head, and is located closer to one bear.- ing face of the head than to the other bearing face thereof, the distance from one bearing face of the tongue to the one bearing face of the head being substantially one and twoand nine-twelfths inches.

4, 1925. Serial No. 66,873.

twelfths inches, while the distance from the other bear-111g face of the tongue to the other bearing race of the head is substantially two For the. purpose of reducing the weight and providing a ventilating space within the tongue, a horizontal passage 5 is formed therein, the inner end of said passage being substantially half-round as shown at 6. In order to provide for drying and burning of the block, without cracking or warping, longitudinal openings 7 may be located at the intersection of the tongue with the head forming substantially an arch support 8, for the inner end of the hollow tongue.

The outer surfaces of the block may be corrugated or ribbed, as illustrated, or otherwise roughened in order to provide for a mortar bond between adjacent blocks and to facilitate the adhesion of plaster or stuccoto the vertical faces of the blocks.

In constructing a wall, as shown in Fig. 2, the blocks A of the lower tier are laid with their tongues supported upon the base blocks B and the blocks of each succeeding tier are reversed, the heads being supported upon the tongues of the next lower tier while the tongues thereof are supported upon the heads of the next lower tier. Mortar or cement is used to join the several. bearing surfaces of the blocks, as in common masonry, while additional width of the tongues provides air spaces 9 between the inner and outer blocks of the wall.

The mortar oints 10 are thus staggered or broken preventing a continuous mortar oint from the inner to the outer face of the wall and thus eliminating the possibility of conduction of water or moisture through the joints to the interior of the wall.

The arch supports 8 at the intersection of the heads and tongues of the blocks increase the strength of the blocks at this point providing better support for the superposed weight thereon, which is concentrated in the vertical line of the inner wall of the head of the superposed block as shown at the left end in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

ll. claim:

1. A building block having a hollow, rectangular head, and a hollow rectangular tongue arched at its inner end extending from one side of the head intermediate the ends thereof, the height of said tongue being substantially one-third the height of the head,

and the tongue being located nearer to one bearing :t'ace than to the other bearing face of the block.

2. A building block having a hollow, rectangular head, and a hollow, rectan ular tongue arched at its inner end extending from one side of the head intermediate the ends thereof for a distancegreater than the distance across the head plus the width of a mortar joint, and the tongue being located nearer to one bearing face than to the other bearing face of the block.

3. A building block having a hollow, rectangular head, and a hollow rectangular tongue arched at its inner end extending from one side of the head intermediate the ends thereof for a distance greater than the distance across the head plus the width of a mortar joint, the height of said tongue being substantially one-third the height of the head, and the tongue being located nearer to one bearing face than to the other bearing face of the block.

4. A building block having a hollow rectangular head, and a hollow rectangular tongue extending from one side of the head, the interior of the tongue having a substantially rectangular opening arched at its inner end.

5. A building block having a hollow rectangular head and a hollow rectangular tongue extending from one side of the head, the interior of the tongue having a substantially rectangular opening curved at its inner end, there being longitudinal openings located at the intersection of the tongue with the head forn'nng substantially an arch support.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN J. WHITAORE. 

